What we love…

super easy to use date calculator that lets you countdown to dates; figure out when follow up appointments should be and more!

What we’d love to see…

ability to integrate with iOS calendar; calculate by years as a countdown

Summary

Overall this is an easy to use date app which helps you calculate the time from period in a variety of ways. It does include a “rate this app” in iTunes link but because it’s primarily for parent’s this isn’t a problem.

Our Rating

Date Wheel by Creative Algorithms is a great app that lets you calculate from one date to another using business days, weeks, months and regular days. It has made scheduling my life as a mom so much easier. The app is very straightforward and easy to use and it easily calculates date duration without complicated math or even having to look at a calendar! How many times have you stood looking at a calendar trying to figure out when you need to follow up with your kids doctor or schedule your next haircut? Other apps by Creative Algorithms include Recipe Manager which I love to use near the holidays.

To use the app, first you click on the start date – this can be a date you can enter or you can click the button for “today”. From there you set the duration and pick the type of duration it is ranging from months, weeks, days or business days. The app will fill in the end date for you at the bottom. Alternatively, you can fill in the start date and end date and it will tell you the duration in between – we used this as part of a back to school countdown for my kids. I can tell you how many times I have stood at the counter of my kids doctors waiting for them to schedule a follow up appointment in X weeks. Schedulers will often say the doctor has availability at X and I usually took it at face value because I wasn’t doing the calculating at the moment – now with a quick date entry I can figure out the number of weeks and if the date is in the ballpark. We also used the app to count down to the solar eclipse that recently occurred near us.

I really like how easy the app is to use – and the flexibility of the app. Being able to calculate by months, weeks and days is how I normally use it the app. You can also use it for project planning as well. At the bottom you can save and have a number of date trackers running all at the same time should you be using it to track milestones or you can simply use it and not save it.

My son used it this summer to track the number of days he had left in his summer reading program. He also used it to count down to the end of the summer and plan for us to buy school supplies. You can easily enable or disable sound as well as have the end date included. You can also easily keep track of calculations by clicking hte list in the lower right hand corner. Other ideas include: when to schedule your next dental cleaning or haircut; count down to important days; and even calculate when an item will arrive. I also like the lock function so you can lock things like the start date, duration and end date.

In terms of improvements, I would like to be able to calculate by years in a future update. Another would be integration with the iOS or Android calendar to remind me that I need to do x task in the future.

Overall this is an easy to use date app. It does include a “rate this app” in iTunes link but because it’s primarily for parent’s this isn’t a problem. Under the “i” there are online links including Facebook, Twitter and various contact me items. If you want to try before you buy, you can test it on the web. You can also check out some other great productivity apps on our site!

Date Wheel date calculator
by Creative Algorithms

Price: $2.99 USD

Date Wheel™ is an award-winning date calculator that calculates time between two dates in months, weeks, days, & business days. ● Save calculations for future reference. ● Countdown to an important.

Alison, the American iMum is from Massachusetts. She lives there with her sons and husband. In their spare time, they enjoy playing outside, enjoying nature and of course testing apps and fantastic products on their devices. They have a variety of devices including an iPad, iPhone, and an iPod and is often found with a device! My older son loves technology and loves testing out the “latest and newest” apps and tech. I love sharing information about apps and products with others to help them make decisions without feeling overwhelmed with all of the choices.

What we love…

What we’d love to see…

better way to carry it around – I currently put it back in the box each time I use it although it can be flattened.

Summary

Overall, this is a great flexible stand which is perfect for anyone with tech in your life. It’s held up very well during my testing and multiple uses.

Our Rating

The Stanley Stand by Distil Union is a leather device that bends to hold your device and accessories while cooking, serving as a portable charging station, holding your tablet and more. Stanley Stand is made of leather, merino wool felt and heavy steel. The Stanley Stand is covered on the outside by leather in your choice of color (black, brown, gray, lime, aqua, red) and on the inside is Merino wool felt. They cover up a piece of steel inside which bends to make the Stanley stand usable in so many situations. Each stand has light grey Merino wool felt which has white stitching, and the darker stand (black) has darker grey felt with black stitching. The stand features a small hole in the back designed to feed your cables through so they are not in the way of your device.

You can use it as a non-traditional dock on your desk at work, on your kitchen counter to hold your device while cooking, to act as a small typing stand or simply to get your device up from a flat spot. It will hold phones and tablets up to 8″ tall and held my iPad Mini in a Griffin Survivor case quite comfortably. You can bend the stand to your viewing angle (so you can watch movies while it is on a table or use it for cooking) or a low angle so you can use it as a typing stand. Inside the box is the Stanley Stand in your choice of color and a USB extension cable which is six feet, this plugs into your lightening charger for your iOS device and works with any USB cable you already use to charge your device by giving it a bit more length.

When I got my Stanley Stand I started coming up with great ideas of using it. The Stanley Stand is small enough to toss in my backpack and bring with me when I’m out with my kids, so I can stream a Netflix movie while they are having an appointment or while I wait in the car for the time of the appointment. I also brought it along as a portable charger – I like many have my iPhone go dead sometimes. This can be frustrating – especially when you find a plug but it’s a little bit too far away or perhaps you don’t want to be limited by the length of your standard issue Apple cable. Thankfully using the USB extension you can now comfortably sit in a char while having your device plugged in! I also liked the Stanley Stand when cooking – I have lots of recipes on my device but I hate touching my iPhone with dirty hands to check the ingredients. Now, I simply prop it on the Stanley Stand, turn off sleep mode and get cooking! My husband also recently brought the Stanley Stand to a conference he attended where he had all of the slides on his iPad – instead of having to hold his device while listening to the lecture he simply propped it up and could easily follow along. One of my favorite things was that I could adjust the Stanley Stand to almost any direction to make it suit my needs – it was nice that it was not molded plastic and static.

In terms of enhancements – right now I put the Stanley Stand back into the box each time I take it somewhere with me – and the box is getting a bit tattered. I haven’t figured out a better solution – it’s pretty small and fits in tight spaces but I don’t want to mistakenly stretch it out. It does fold flat – and I have done that a few times to slide it into a tight space in my bag – but I’m not sure if that is a good idea long term.

Overall, this is a great flexible stand which is perfect for anyone with tech in your life. It’s perfect for kids who may be using a tablet to do reading and need to prop it up, adults who need a desktop charging stand or anything in between. It’s held up very well during my testing and multiple uses. In fact, if anything the leather has gotten a nice patina to it. At a cost of $49.99 USD I feel the Stanley Stand is worth it and is a great gift for someone on your list who may be hard to buy for! You can buy it direct from Distil Union for $49.99, Amazon and other retailers.

Product details

Compatibility: Phones and tablets up to 8″ tall

Bend to your viewing angle, or low angle for ergonomic typing

Premium materials, skilled craftsmanship, and 1-year warranty

Materials: Leather, Merino wool felt, and heavy steel

Included: USB extension cable (6ft) – Note: Cable is NOT an iPhone cable. Instead, it works with any USB cable you already use to charge your device.

NOTE: A product was supplied by the company for review purposes, no other form of compensation was received, all opinions stated in the review are those of the author and have been offered honestly.The links in this post may contain affiliate links where The iMums will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on our link, this helps to support the costs of running this site and we appreciate your support.

Alison, the American iMum is from Massachusetts. She lives there with her sons and husband. In their spare time, they enjoy playing outside, enjoying nature and of course testing apps and fantastic products on their devices. They have a variety of devices including an iPad, iPhone, and an iPod and is often found with a device! My older son loves technology and loves testing out the “latest and newest” apps and tech. I love sharing information about apps and products with others to help them make decisions without feeling overwhelmed with all of the choices.

What we love…

ability to turn on and off items with the tap of a remote or via my iPhone

What we’d love to see…

a one button touch for the remote versus on and off buttons on the current remote

Summary

Home automation is a trend of the future both for saving energy as well as convenience. Using the Mi|Home System means you will never have to come home to a dark house, worry about the temperature of your Nest thermostat as well as have the ability to check on your home to ensure that it is safe if you are travelling or away.

The Mi|Home by ENERGENIE is a smart home system that integrates a hub known as the Mi|Home Gateway with a remote control, and radio controlled sockets that allow you to switch items on and off with the tap of a remote. This means that if you arrive home later than planned, you can either use the remote to turn on lights at your home, or the included app to turn on lights with the tap of a button. For purposes of this review, I tested a Mi|Home Gateway, three Mi|Home adapters which I plugged various items into as well as a Mi|Home remote control. The system I tested is meant to be used in the UK, so I added adapters to use it in the United States. The Mi|Home also includes a Multi-Plug which could be used for a television, cable box and entertainment system. It can also be used to heating as well. There is also a Mi|Home Light which can be used to control lights in your house. You can also integrate Amazon Alexa with the Mi|Home to control your accessories. It will also work with the Nest thermostat so you can turn up and down your thermostat if you arrive home later than normal or away on vacation and stay longer than planned. The Mi|Home System also uses geofencing so you can set your devices to turn on when you get within a certain radius – for me I used a one mile radius so when my iPhone was in range items turned on.

Setup was straightforward, I installed the Mi|Home app on my iPhone and then added each of the Mi|Home control adapters which I then tagged and plugged something into. I used a lamp in my living room, a radio in my kitchen we listen to frequently, and the third was another lamp on the second floor of my home. I paired the Mi|Home Gateway with my internet connection and internet booster as my home internet setup is upstairs and I didn’t find that it gave me enough coverage from my home router to work throughout the house — this is a common problem for me and is a problem at my home not with the device. You can also pair devices to the hub via your computer or iPhone. To pair, you simply tap “add a device” pick the photo of the device you are trying to add, for me I used the adapter plus and then plugged them in and followed directions to pair which involved waiting for a light to start flashing. I then finally paired the remote.

Using the included remote control I could turn on and off each of the sockets or I used my iPhone. One my favorite features of it was that it did not require line of sight similar to your cable remote to turn on and off things. You can also plug in appliances to the Mi|Home adapters that you want to be able to turn on and off like a toaster or perhaps a coffee maker. I can see it being great during the holidays if you had a Christmas tree that you wanted to turn on and off using the timer function. When using your iPhone or Android device you can access the Mi|Home System from the cloud. I chose not to use the adapters to power my garage doors since they were turned on in proxy from my iPhone and I would not be able to tell if they were opened or closed using the included app — this is something I would love to do in the future as I always worry about my garage door when I leave in a hurry.

I loved that I no longer had to walk into a dark house if I got home later than planned or that I could easily turn on a light upstairs without having to climb the stairs or that my house would be lit up . The range of the remote was good – I could stand in my garage and turn on things upstairs or bring the remote upstairs to turn off the last light before going to bed and not have to walk upstairs in the dark. I also liked that I could add or change items on the fly – for example, I knew I was going to be home late so I quickly switched a socket to one near the top of my stairs for better security lighting upon my return home. As I started using it more, I found that I was using my iPhone more than the included remote control – although admittedly it was night to have the remote if my phone died or was downstairs on the charger.

Overall, I loved the ease and convenience of the Mi|Home System and knowing I didn’t have to walk into a dark house — or that I could turn on the lights off or on remotely or via my iPhone with the geofencing. Included in the package I tested were a central hub, remote control and 3 smart home adapters at an estimated RRV of £70.

Screenshots

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NOTE: A product was supplied by the company for review purposes, no other form of compensation was received, all opinions stated in the review are those of the author and have been offered honestly.The links in this post may contain affiliate links where The iMums will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on our link, this helps to support the costs of running this site and we appreciate your support.

Alison, the American iMum is from Massachusetts. She lives there with her sons and husband. In their spare time, they enjoy playing outside, enjoying nature and of course testing apps and fantastic products on their devices. They have a variety of devices including an iPad, iPhone, and an iPod and is often found with a device! My older son loves technology and loves testing out the “latest and newest” apps and tech. I love sharing information about apps and products with others to help them make decisions without feeling overwhelmed with all of the choices.

“Just a sec,” say nine out of 10 parents answering an email when their kid asks them for something. If it’s hard for us to jump out of the digital world, just imagine you’re 3 and the lines between fantasy and reality are already blurred — then throw in a super-engaging, colorful, fun, immersive experience. Or you’re 5 and each episode of Mutt & Stuff on the Nick Jr. app is better than the last. Or you’re 8 and you’re almost finished building something amazing in Minecraft. Why would you ever want to stop?

This is why getting kids off their devices is so tough. And when threatening doesn’t work, and you discover the research that two-minute warnings aren’t the best option either, what can you do? Thankfully, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has some new guidelines around screen use that ease some parental guilt, but you still need to get your kid off the iPad at some point. Aside from being a strong role model, try these tips to minimize conflict and find the balance we’re all seeking.

Have another activity lined up (bonus points for making it seem fun). For the youngest device users, transitions are hard — period. Even if the next “to do” is a “must do” (such as eating lunch), tell your kid what’s coming next. You can rehearse the process: “When I say stop, it’s time for the iPad to go night-night. Let’s see how fast you can flip it shut! As soon as it’s asleep, we can sneak into the other room and paint.”

Use visual and sound cues to help kids keep track of time limits. For kids who don’t yet know how to tell time, try a timer that can help put them in charge of the process: “When the time is up, it’ll look and sound like this.”

Find apps with built-in timers. Video streamers like Cakey and Huvi throw parents a bone and have internal timers so the app stops on its own. Then it’s up to the parent to make sure kiddo doesn’t just jump into another app.

Tell kids to stop at a natural break, such as the end of an episode, level, or activity. It’s hard for kids (and adults!) to stop in the middle of something. Before your kid gets on a device, talk about what they want to do or play, what will be a good place to stop, and how long they think it’ll take. Set the limit together and hold to it, though a little wiggle room (a couple of minutes so they can finish) is fine.

Discuss consequences and follow through when kids test the limits. When all else fails, it’s important to have discussed consequences for when your kid won’t give it up. For little kids, the line can be something like, “If it’s too hard to turn off, the tablet has to go away for a whole day.” For older kids it’s more about keeping devices in a public space, setting expectations, and enforcing them. If they show you they can be partners in moderating and regulating themselves, there can be more flexibility.

About the author

Christine Elgersma works on learning and social media app reviews and parent talks as Senior Editor, Parent Education . Before coming to Common Sense, she helped cultivate and create ELA curriculum for a K-12 app, taught the youth of America as a high school teacher, a community college teacher, a tutor, and a special education instructional aide. Christine is also a writer, primarily of fiction and essays, and loves to read all manner of books from Stephen King to Anne Lamott. When she’s not putting on a spontaneous vaudeville show with her daughter, Christine loves to hike and listen to music, sometimes simultaneously.

Common Sense Media is an independent nonprofit organization offering unbiased ratings and trusted advice to help families make smart media and technology choices. Check out our ratings and recommendations at www.commonsensemedia.org.

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Meet the iMums

The iMums - Amanda, Alison, Mary and Grace - are four mothers from different parts of the world dedicated to informing parents about the best digital stories, educational apps, fun games and technology products available for their children. We also offer the latest news in apps for kids, interesting articles, developer interviews, free apps and regular giveaways! Read more.

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